Unai Emery may publicly despise the narrative, but the conversation is now unavoidable. Aston Villa's dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal at a raucous Villa Park has catapulted them firmly into the Premier League title race discussion, whether their manager likes it or not.
Emery's Public Disdain vs. The Undeniable Facts
In his programme notes ahead of the clash with the Gunners, the Villa boss made his feelings crystal clear. Emery explicitly stated he "dislikes" headlines about a title challenge, urging for humility and pointing out that such words are "empty until April or May." He reminded everyone that many now touting Villa were writing them off as a "finished team" back in August.
Yet, the league table and recent form tell a compelling counter-story. The win, sealed by Emi Buendia's ice-cool finish in the 94th minute, means Villa are now just three points behind league leaders Arsenal. This is despite a terrible start to the campaign where they failed to win any of their first four matches and scored only once.
A Fortress and A Formidable Run
The foundation of this remarkable surge is Villa Park. The victory over Mikel Arteta's side is merely the latest statement win at a ground that has become a fortress. Villa have now beaten Manchester City in each of the last three seasons in B6, and last season's triumphs over European giants Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Conference League proved their pedigree.
Since a 1-1 draw at Sunderland in late September, Villa's form has been nothing short of extraordinary. They have won 13 of their last 15 matches across all competitions. In the Premier League, they have claimed nine victories from their last ten outings. This run marks the first time since December 1919 that Villa have won nine top-flight games in any ten-match spell.
Reacting Like Champions
The nature of the win against Arsenal underscored their newfound resilience. After dominating the first half and taking the lead, they conceded an equaliser to Leandro Trossard and came under significant pressure. Instead of folding, they demonstrated the hallmark of potential champions, digging deep and finding a winner at the death.
The scenes at full-time, with Villa Park erupting, echoed those famous European nights. While Emery will continue to preach caution and focus on the next game—a tricky trip to West Ham—the facts are now inescapable. Villa are in the title race until mathematical possibility says otherwise. If they stumble at the London Stadium, the online memes will flow, but for now, the dream is very much alive in Birmingham.
